Ultrasonic surgical instruments

Abstract

An ultrasonic surgical blade comprises a solid blade body defining an axis. The solid blade body comprises a first length, a proximal end, and a distal end. The solid blade body is configured to acoustically couple to an ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic surgical blade further comprises a treatment region and a first edge at the distal end of the solid blade body. The ultrasonic surgical blade comprises an inner concave surface. The inner concave surface comprises a cavity extending proximally from the distal end of the solid blade body along the axis. The cavity terminates at a proximal end of the inner concave surface. The inner concave surface is configured to cause fluid droplets to converge along the axis when the fluid droplets collide with the inner concave surface to enhance visibility of a surgical site.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ultrasonic surgical blade for the treatment of tissue, comprising:
 a solid blade body defining an axis, the solid blade body comprising:
 a first length; 
 a proximal end; and 
 a distal end, wherein the solid blade body is configured to acoustically couple to an ultrasonic transducer; 
 
 a treatment region; 
 a first edge at the distal end of the solid blade body; and 
 an inner concave surface, comprising:
 a cavity extending proximally from the distal end of the solid blade body along the axis, wherein the cavity terminates at a proximal end of the inner concave surface, wherein the cavity comprises a second length between the first edge and the proximal end, wherein the first length is substantially longer than the second length, wherein the cavity is substantially concave and comprises a convex portion, and wherein the convex portion comprises a partial ellipsoid surface. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The ultrasonic surgical blade of  claim 1 , wherein the inner concave surface is configured to cause fluid droplets to converge along the axis at a point beyond the distal end of the solid blade body. 
     
     
       3. The ultrasonic surgical blade of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity terminates at a plane substantially orthogonal to the axis. 
     
     
       4. The ultrasonic surgical blade of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment region comprises a curved blade. 
     
     
       5. The ultrasonic surgical blade of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment region comprises at least one coagulating edge. 
     
     
       6. The ultrasonic surgical blade of  claim 1 , wherein the inner concave surface is asymmetric. 
     
     
       7. The ultrasonic surgical blade of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment region comprises at least one cutting edge. 
     
     
       8. The ultrasonic surgical blade of  claim 1 , wherein the solid blade body further comprises an apex. 
     
     
       9. The ultrasonic surgical blade of  claim 8 , wherein the inner concave surface extends inwardly toward the apex. 
     
     
       10. The ultrasonic surgical blade of  claim 9 , wherein the inner concave surface terminates at the apex within the solid blade body. 
     
     
       11. The ultrasonic surgical blade of  claim 1 , wherein the first edge forms a base of the inner concave surface. 
     
     
       12. The ultrasonic surgical blade of  claim 1 , wherein the inner concave surface terminates at the partial ellipsoid surface.